Classifier



Oct. 15, 1946. s. D; FENTON CLASSIFIER Filed May 4, 1944 4. sheets-sheet 2 a Daggw Ewm/g w Patented Oct. 15, 1946 UNl'iED STATES PATENT ZAtaZtS ()FFICE CLASSIFIER Application May 4, 1944, Serial No. 534,144

6 Claims.

This invention is a classifier of the type adapted to measure the sizes of articles and to classify them accordingly in an automatic manner, in its specific form the invention providing for automatically classifying coiled springs according to their lengths.

A specific example of the invention in the above form is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a partly sectioned side View;

Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line II---Il in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top view;

Figure 4 is a partly sectioned portion of Fi ure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective of details; and

Figure 6 is a wiring diagram.

More specifically, these drawings show a frame I mounting a horizontal metal ring 2 having a top annulus providing a horizontal, smooth, flat, metal surface 3 having a series of flush, spaced, metal trap doors provided in the form of slides ll, 5, 5 and l fitting in radial grooves 8 formed in the surface 3 of the ring 2, the latter having vertica] holes 9 closed by these slides when they are slid radially outwardly, in which directions they are biased by springs ill, the slides having vertical holes it which may be registered with the holes 9 by sliding the slides inwardly against the bias of their springs it, the slides otherwise providing flush continuations of the surface 3 of the ring 2. Each of the slides is provided with its own electric motor for opening it, which is in the form of a soft iron plunger !2 working in an electric solenoid it, mounted by the frame l through a bracket it, which upon energization pulls the plunger l2 against the bias of the spring l and thus pulls the slide with which it connects so that its hole ll registers with the hole 9 in the bottom of the groove 8 in which the slide is fitted. Preferably the ring 2 and the slides are made of steel and the surface 3 and the top surfaces of the slides, which ride flush with this surface 3, are all hardened by suitable treatment.

A vertical shaft !5 is journaled in the frame I by bearings and its upper end mounts a turntable I 6 having a depending flange ll, riding lightly on the surface 3, this turntable providing a plurality of upstanding, spring embracements l8, whereby to mount these embracements so they repetitiously travel over the surface 3 in line with the series of trap doors, the trap door series being arcuate. These spring embracements I 8 are provided with bores 19, in which the springs to be classified are placed, whereby the embracements, when moved over the surface 3 by rotation of the turntable it, slide the springs over this surface 3 in upright positions, with the bottom-spring-ends riding over the trap door series so that opening of any trap door will permit the spring registered therewith to drop through the trap door, the springs being biased against the surface 3 by gravity.

Rotation of the turntable is is effected by rotation of the shaft E5 on which it is mounted, this being done intermittently through at Geneva drive 20, the continuously rotatin cam of which is powered by a vertical shaft 2!, journaled by the frame 5 in bearings, through a friction drive 22, by an electric induction motor 23 working through a speed reduction gearing 24. The arrangement is such that for each revolution of the shaft 2 l the intermittent drive 2 turns the shaft 15 just sufficiently to move the spring embrac ments 18 from one of the trap doors to the next so that each of the embracernents is successively registered over each of the trap doors. Of course the embracements 18 are an arcuate series and are spaced in the same manner as the trap doors are spaced.

Top-springend co-ntactors 25, 26, 2'! and 28 are mounted by a horizontal panel 29, spaced above the trap door series by way of columns 3, the arrangement being such that these contactors are over each trap door at spaced positions above the embracement tops at successively lower heights in the traveling direction of these embracements. That is to say, the contactor 25 is directly above the trap door 4, the contactor 26 is directly above the trap door 5, etc., it following that the top-spring-ends of the longest springs will contact the contactor 25, those of the next highest will contact the contactor 26, etc. Each contactor is made with a bottom face that inclines slightly in the advancing direction of the embracements, so that the top-springends will tend to slide thereunder and into firm contact therewith should they be able to contact at all, and each is mounted on the bottom end of a vertical screw 3| adjustably mounted in the panel by opposed nuts 32 and which is electrically insulated from the panel 29 by insulating bushings 33, this general arrangement bein similar for each of the various contactors.

Generally speaking, in the operation of the machine the motor 23 intermittently turns the shaft [5 so as to bring each of the embracements successively over each trap door and beneath each of the top-spring-end contactors, and the latter are connected in each instance with the solenoid l3 of the trap door above which it is positioned, whereby, depending upon their lengths, the various springs are dropped through various ones of the trap doors so as to be classified into four different length categories. The springs are manually loaded into the embracements I8 prior to the time the embracements start over the various trap doors and under the various contactors, the operation being otherwise automatic. For convenience, each trap door delivers the spring it passing to its own delivery tube, these tubes being shown at 34, 35, and 31, respectively delivering to drawers 38, 39, and 4| where the springs collect according to their classified lengths. Since some springs may be much too short, the surface 3 of the ring 2 is preferably provided with a vertical hole 42 that is always open and through which any spring that reaches this hole must drop, the hole 42 also having its spring conveying tube 43 delivering to a drawer 44. This hole 42 is spaced from the last of the trap door series to effect successive registrations of the various embracemerits therewith as the embracements are intermittently revolved by the intermittent rotation of the shaft l5.

At the first embracement-stopping position in advance of the trap door 4, the panel 29 mounts a top-spring-end depressor in the form of a plunger 45 worked by a pneumatic motor of which the cylinder 46 is shown mounted vertically by the panel 29, the depressor being biased to an upward, inoperative position by a spring 4'! and the introduction of air to the top end of the cylinder 46 serving to drive the depressor downwardly so as to engage the top end of each spring, after it has been placed in the bore IQ of an embracement l8, so as to close the spring more or less and drive its bottom end into firm engagement with the surface 3 over which it thereafter slides. The use of the pneumatic motor has an advantage in that it provides for a somewhat retarded return stroke of the depressor 45, thus eliminating the possibility of sudden release of a seated spring with the consequent possibility of its becoming unseated which would lead to its inaccurate classification.

The above is but one detail which permits the classifier to operate at high speeds, another being the manner in which the various contactors are connected with the various solenoids of the various trap doors, this being done in such a manner that during the earlier portions of the stops in the intermittent motion of the embracements, the determination is made as to whether a topspring-end is in contact with the contactor below which it is registered, and so that subsequent contact during the latter portions of the stops, when there might be spring vibration, will have no effect, such subsequent contact failing to do anything in the way of opening the trap door beneath the contactor thus subsequently contacted. Then, during the latter portions of the stops, the electric motor working the trap doors is operated to momentarily open the trap doors only in those instances where the springs initially contacted the top-spring-end contactors. The manner in which all of this is accomplished will now be described.

The shaft 2|, which is turned continuously by the motor 23, makes one complete rotation for each partial rotation of the shaft [5 effected by the various spring embracements [8 with the various trap doors and contactors. The shaft 2| carries cams 48, 49, 50 and 5| working electric switches 52, 53, 54 and 55, this arrangement being such that the switch 52 closes when the shaft 2| has rotated about the 120 terminating the indexing motion it imparts the shaft l5, and opens after the shaft 2| turns about 270. In this connection, 0 is taken as the position of the shaft 2| when it starts to turn the shaft l5 through the Geneva drive 20. The switch 53 also closes at about 120 but it opens at about 210, the switch 54 closes at about 180 and opens at about 372 which means that it opens during about the first 12 of the next cycle, and the switch 55 closes at about 240 and opens at about 360. This timing may be varied somewhat but the general sequence should be followed.

Referring now to the wiring diagram, the mo tor 23 is powered by the A. C. lines 56 which also power an electric thruster 51 working a threeway, compressed air, control valve 58 supplied with compressed air by a pipe 59 and transmitting this air, through its control, by way of a pipe 60 to the top end of the cylinder 46 working the top-spring-end depressor 45. When the thruster 51 is energized it sends air to the top of the cylinder 46, and when it is deenergized the valve 58 moves to connect the pipe 60 with the atmosphere so that this air is exhausted from the top of the cylinder 46 by action of the spring 41 biasing the depressor to inoperative position. Therefore, as each spring embracement l8 registers with the depressor 45 and comes to a stop, the thruster 51 is energized by the switch 52, through lines 6|, so that air is introduced to the top of the cylinder 46, this driving the depressor 45 downwardly so that it operates to perform its function, the switch 52 then opening so that the spring 41 returns the depressor to inoperative position. The switch closes at 120 turn of the shaft 2| and opens when the shaft 2| turns 270, so the shaft can continue to turn 90 more before it begins to again rotate the shaft I5, this allowing time for the spring 41 to properly perform its function.

The operation is continuous and this means that all of the embracements beneath the various contactors 25 through 28 are successively loaded with springs which then have their bottom ends firmly seated on the surface 3.

Simultaneously with the closing of the switch 52, the switch 53 also closes, this energizing the solenoid 62, through lines 63 connecting with the lines 56 through the lines 6!, of a relay having a series of contacts 64 which then all close. An electric relay is provided for each of the electric trap door motors, these relays having contacts 65 and contact closing solenoids 66, and electric lines 61 connect with each of the solenoids 66 through series connection with the trap door worked by the motor for which it is provided and the contactor thereabove. The switch 53 opens at 210 and functions as a master switch for the lines 61, which momentarily closes during the earlier portions of the stops in the rotation of the shaft I5. Electric lines 68 connect the solenoids l3, through series connection with the contacts 55 of the relay with which each solenoid is provided, with powered low-voltage lines 69 through the switch 54, the latter functioning as a master switch for both the lines 61 and 68 by thus connecting them with the powering lines 69. The switch 55, which closes at 240 of the revolution of the shaft 2| and opens at 360, functions-to momentarily energize the solenoid 70, powered by the lines 56 through lines ll, 63 and 6|, so as to momentarily close its contacts 12 controlling the lines 68, and functions as a master switch for these lines which closes momentarily after the momentary closing of the switch 53.

Thus it can be seen that the switch 53 functions as a master switch for the lines 6'! which closes at 120 and opens at 210 of the rotation of the shaft 2|, this momentarily closin the circuit in the lines 6'! during the first or earlier portions of the stops in the movement of the embracements i8, and that the switch 55 provides a master switch for the lines 68 which closes at 240 and opens at 360 so as to momentarily energize the circuit through these lines by way of the contacts 12 during the latter portions of these stops. The various contacts 55 are provided with lines '13 to connect their solenoids 66 through their contacts 65 with the powered electric lines 68 and 61 so as to seal these contacts closed until these lines are unpowered by opening of the switch 54 when it opens at 372, it having been closed since 180 so as to keep these lines energized throughout the cycle. This switch 54 opens prior to re closing of the switch 53.

With the foregoing in mind, the operator places a spring in the bore it) of one of the embracements l8 during one of the stops in the intermittent motion of the turntable iii. bracement then advances to beneath the topspring-end depressor 35, this requiring the shaft 2! to rotate through 120. At this time the switch 52 closes, air is admitted to the top of the cylinder 45 and the depressor 45 drives the top-spring-end down into the embracement and seats its bottom end firmly on the surface 3 of the ring 2. The shaft 2i continues to turn while the shaft i5 remains stationary and when the shaft 2! has turned 270 the switch 52 opens and the spring 41 smoothly and evenly returns the depressor 45 to its inoperative position.

The shaft 21 continues to turn another 120, this indexing the embracement carrying the spring over the trap door 4. If the spring is long enough it contacts the contactor 25, and since the switch 53 closes at 120 of the rotation of the shaft 2! and the switch 54 next closes at 186, this being during the earlier portion of the stop in the embracements motion, the spring closes the circuit through the lines 57, energizes the solenoid 65 provided for the trap door, over which the spring is now registered, and causes the contact 55 of this relay to seal through the sealing circuit established by the lines 13, the switch 53 then opening at 210", it having stayed closed but momentarily so that subsequent spring vibration will have no effect on the measuring operation. Next, the switch 55 closes at 240 of the rotation of the shaft 2! and this closes the circuit through the line 63 and the contacts 65 of the sealed relay so as to energize the solenoid it of the trap door over which the spring is registered, this trap door then opening and thereafter closing as soon as the shaft 2! turns 360 since this opens the switch 55, it being understood that the switch 55 must tay closed long enough to permit the spring to fall through the trap door before the trap door closes. The shaft 2! now begins to again rotate the shaft l5 and when the shaft 2! turns 372, it opens the switch 55 so as to unseal any of the contacts 65 that might have been closed due to a spring having closed the circuit through the lines 51. Regardless of which of the contactors the spring ultimately contacts, the trap door over This emwhich it is then registered opens, providing the top end of the spring contacted the contactor during the first portions of the stops in registration therewith and not during the latter portions of these stops when the spring had begun to vibrate. If the spring i too short to touch any of the contactors it ultimately arrives over the hole 42 and it then falls from the embracement carrying it. As previously explained, the springs are conveyed from the various trap doors to appropriate collection points.

Certain variations may be made in the details of this machine to suit specific problems. Thus, with very light springs, gravity may not be sufiicient to let the springs fall quickly enough for high operating speeds, and in such instances pipes may be arranged to blow air jets onto the spring tops, when the trap doors open, to accelerate the springs falling. Also, by rewiring, the top-springend contactor may be rearranged to have spacing from the trap doors that are not progressively decreasing, and this may be done so that contact of the top-spring-ends keeps the trap doors closed and so they open when there is no such contact.

I claim:

1. A coil spring classifier including a substantially horizontal, smooth, fiat metal surface having a serie of rlush metal trap doors, a plurality of upstanding spring embracements mounted to repetitiously travel over said. surface in line with said series to slide thereover the springs upright when loaded therewith in advance of the series, means for causing said embracements to intermittently travel with stop while in registration with said trap doors, a top-spring-end contactor over each trap door above the embracement tops at differing heights, and means for momentarily controlling any of said trap doors and in response to whether the contactor thereover is contacted by a top-spring-end, the classifier including a topspring-end depressor registered above an embracement-stopping position in advance of said series and means for operating said depressor during said stops.

2. A coil spring classifier including a substantially horizontal, smooth, flat metal surface having a series of flush metal trap doors, a plurality of upstanding spring embracements mounted to repetitiously travel over said surface in line with said series to slide thereover the springs upright when loaded therewith in advance of the series, means for causing said embracements to intermittently travel with stops while in registration with said trap doors, a topspring-end contactor over each trap door above the embracement tops at differing heights, an electric motor for each trap door for opening it as long as the motor is energized, an electric relay provided for each of these motors and having contacts and a contact-closing solenoid, a powered electric circuit connecting with each of said solenoids through series connection with the trap door worked by the motor for which it is provided and the contactor thereabove, a powered electric circuit connecting with each of said motors through series connection with the contacts of the relay with which it is provided, a master switch for each of said circuits, and means for momentarily closing first the master switch for the first-named circuit and then the one for the second-named circuit during said stops, said contacts being in circuit to connect said solenoids therethrough with a powered electric circuit sealing said contacts closed and the last-named cir- 7 cuit having means for momentarily opening it after opening of the second-named master switch and before reclosing of the first-named one.

3. A coil spring classifier including a substantially horizontal, smooth, fiat metal surface having a series of flush metal trap doors, a plurality of upstanding spring embracements mounted. to repetitiously travel over said surface in line with said series to slide thereover the springs upright when loaded therewith in advance of the series, means for causing said embracements to intermittently travel with stops while in registration with said trap doors, a top-spring-end contactor over each trap door above the embracement tops at differing heights, an electric motor for each trap door for opening it as long as the motor is energized, an electric relay provided for each of these motors and having contacts and a contact-closing solenoid, a powered electric circuit connecting with each of said solenoids through series connection with the trap door worked by the motor for which it is provided and the contactor thereabove, a powered electric circuit connecting with each of said motors through series connection with the contacts of the relay with which it is provided, a master switch for each of said circuits, and means for momentarily closing first the master switch for the first-named circuit and then the one for the second-named circuit during said stops, said contacts being in circuit to connect said solenoids therethrough with a powered electric circuit sealing said contacts closed and the last-named circuit having means for momentarily opening it after opening of the second-named master switch and before reclosing of the first-named one, the classifier including a top-spring-end depressor registered above an embracement-stopping position in advance of said series and means for operating said depressor during said stops.

4. A coil spring classifier including a substantially horizontal, smooth, flat metal surface having a series of flush metal trap doors, a plurality of upstanding spring embracements mounted to repetitiously travel over said surface in line with said series to slide thereover the springs upright when loaded therewith in advance of the series, means for causing said embracements to intermittently travel with stops while in registration with said trap doors, a top-spring-end contactor I over each trap door above the embracement tops at differing heights, an electric motor for each trap door for opening it as long as the motor is energized, an electric relay provided for each of these motors and having contacts and a contactclosing solenoid, a powered electric circuit connecting with each of said solenoids through series connection with the trap door worked by the motor for which it is provided and the contactor thereabove, a powered electric circuit connecting with each of said motors through series connection with the contacts of the relay with which it is provided, a master switch for each of said circuits, and means for momentarily closing first the master switch for the first-named circuit and then the one for the second-named circuit during said stops, said contacts being in circuit to connect said solenoids therethrough with a powered electric circuit sealing said contacts closed and the last-named circuit having means for momentarily opening it after opening of the second-named master switch and before reclosing of the first-named one, the classifier including a top-spring-end depressor registered above an embracement-stopping position in advance of said series and means for operating said depressor during said stops, said surface being annular and said series being arcuate, and said embracements being mounted in an arcuate series like said trap door series by a mounting revolving over said surface.

5. A coil spring classifier including a substantially horizontal, smooth, fiat metal surface having a series of flush metal trap doors, a plurality of upstanding spring embracements mounted to repetitiously travel over said surface in line with said series to slide thereover the springs upright when loaded therewith in advance of the series, means for causing said embracements to intermittently travel with stops while in registration with said trap doors, a top-spring-end contactor over each trap door above the embracement tops at diifering heights, and means for at least momentarily controlling any of said trap doors and in response to whether the contactor thereover is contacted by a top-spring-end, the lastnamed means having means for limiting its response to contact of said top-spring-end with said contactor to the initial portions of said stops so that subsequent contact due to spring vibration has no effect.

6. A coil spring classifier including the combination of a surface having a series of trap doors, means for intermittently sliding coil springs with one of their ends biased against said surface from one of said trap doors to another in succession with stops at each trap door and with said springs at right angles to said surface, a contactor spaced opposite each trap door for contacting the other ends of said springs with the contactors having differing trap door spacing, and means for at least momentarily controlling any of said trap doors during said stops and in response to whether an article contacts the contactor spaced opposite thereto, the last-named means having means for limiting its response to contact of the spring ends with said contactor to the initial portions of said stops so that subsequent contact due to spring vibration has no effect.

G. DONALD FENTON. 

